The turbulence in the Middle East may seem to be a long way from the leafy country roads of Shropshire and Powys, but continuing political uncertainty in many oil-producing nations places a serious question mark over the long-term sustainability of low prices – meaning the current favourable fuel costs on the county’s forecourts cannot be guaranteed indefinitely.

Furthermore, recent agreements by world leaders to significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions mean that many car and business owners are increasingly concerned with the damage their vehicles inflict on the environment, a problem that is perhaps more acutely recognised in the unspoilt surroundings of the county’s rural landscape.

Plug-in cars: cost-effective, clean and easy to run

The electric (or plug-in) car, such as the UK’s leading model, the Mitsubishi PHEV, offers a tantalising array of benefits both to domestic owners and businesses who operate a fleet of vehicles, for whom the cost of motoring and the protection of the environment are key concerns. Even with the current low cost of fuel at Shropshire’s petrol stations, plug-in vehicles are consistently more cost-effective, with a full charge costing far less than a full tank.

Investing in an electric car now is only the beginning. As energy efficient technology becomes more widely available, the cost of motoring is likely to fall even further just as conventional engines become more expensive to run due to fluctuating prices in oil and, eventually, global shortages.

The electric car grant scheme

While the price of an electric car on the forecourt tends to be higher than for petrol or diesel engine models, the considerable savings to be enjoyed over the lifetime of the vehicle clearly make plug-in cars an attractive option. However, to make these models, such as the unbeatable Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, even more affordable, a government grant could save thousands of pounds on the list price, with the best savings to be made on orders placed before the end of February. With 2016 being a leap year, there’s even an extra day to place your order on a brand new Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV plug-in with JT Hughes at one of our two Mitsubishi showrooms in Telford and Newtown.

Time running out for £5,000 grant as changes due in March.

The plug-in electric car grant, first offered in 2011, has helped to establish the UK as one of the largest markets of low emission vehicles in the world as well as giving more domestic and business car owners the opportunity to cut their motoring costs and contribute to a cleaner, healthier environment. Until now the grant has offered £5,000 towards the purchase of qualifying plug-in vehicles, helping to bring the purchase price in line with conventional cars while promising significant on-the-road savings in the future.

An overhaul to the scheme, however, takes effect from 1st March 2016, meaning that it is imperative that car owners and businesses who wish to enjoy cheaper and cleaner motoring take immediate action to take advantage of the £5,000 grant, or else face losing money.

Plug-in car categories: what it means for you

Plug-in cars will be organised into three categories according to their efficiency levels, with the maximum grant of £4,500 only offered to models in category one that boast the most efficiency. Vehicles in categories two and three will be eligible to receive a considerably reduced grant of £2,500, and only if their purchase price is below £60,000. Cars that cost in excess of £60,000 will not be eligible to receive a grant at all.

Under the new grants scheme, you stand to lose thousands by failing to act promptly to take advantage of the current £5,000 discount on offer, which could also restrict the model that you are able to purchase if you’re unable to make up the difference. The three categories of plug-in cars that will determine how much grant is offered on a vehicle is organised as follows:

• Category one: vehicles with CO2 emissions below 50 g/km and a zero-emission range of 70 miles or more.

• Category two: vehicles with CO2 emissions below 50 g/km and a zero-emission range of between 10 and 69 miles.

• Category three: vehicles with CO2 emissions of 50 - 75 g/km and a zero-emission range of 20 miles or more.

This means that, after 1st March 2016, customers may have to give more attention to the emissions output of the plug-in vehicles available in order to achieve the maximum grant, which will still be £500 lower than the current amount available. Until the new grants system comes into force, the £5,000 discount applies to all eligible vehicles irrespective of their energy efficiency, meaning customers can enjoy greater choice and flexibility as well as larger cost savings. You can get further information from the government office of low emissions.

Act now to secure your £5,000 electric car grant!

Until the end of February, the existing grants scheme remains in place and unaffected by the changes, meaning considerable savings could be enjoyed for businesses or private customers wishing to purchase an eligible plug-in vehicle. Eligible models include the Mitsubishi iMiEV and the best-selling Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, both of which combine energy efficient and on-the-road savings with the versatility and specifications that are synonymous with the Mitsubishi brand.

In order to take full advantage of the £5,000 government grant on a plug-in vehicle, the only stipulation is that the order must be placed before 29th February, so there’s even no need to take delivery of your chosen model before the current grants scheme expires and the new system comes into force.

Failing to place a timely order before the deadline, however, could prove to be costly.

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J. T. Hughes (Oswestry) Ltd, 5 Battlefield Road, Shrewsbury, SY14AB. Our FCA number is 306434.
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